Stormin’ Norman is the fourth book in the Lyon Road Vets series. This story deals with Jesse and Dan who we met briefly in book three. This is told in first person through Jesse’s pov.

2.5 Stars



First, I want to say that the couple in this book are in their mid-forties, with Dan nearing his fiftieth birthday at the end of the book. So the guys on the cover are much too young.

If you’re looking for a romance, I wouldn’t say this book is it. It is about an established couple, but it’s more about them having and keeping a relationship when Jesse has a job that he loves more than he loves Dan. First off, Jesse is an undercover operative. He makes it a big deal about keeping it a secret from everyone, but everyone seems to know. And he doesn’t hide the fact that he’s willing to kill anyone who hurts his friends. I found it hard to believe he’d offer to kill people, even to a one night stand. Jesse is married to his job. He ‘breaks-up’ with Dan every time he goes away on assignment, but he always knows Dan will be there for him when he returns, be it a few months or a year later. He takes Dan for granted.

Dan has waited seven years for Jesse to quit, Jesse says he will but doesn’t. Dan finally has enough and leaves Jesse for good. When Jesse returns he finds that Dan is with another guy. Jesse breaks down. With the meddling of Evan and Peter they convince him to move on and he does and picks up a guy. Dan of course is furious and stuff happens. They had an open relationship, sort of. Jesse always had guys while he was on assignment, but Dan remained faithful. But when Jesse returns, he hates it that Dan is dating and in love. And when Jesse goes out, Dan is also jealous. These two guys are very messed up.

Sam was Jesse’s ‘handler’ in the business. Before Jesse quit, she told Jesse to do whatever it took to get Dan back because he was the best thing that ever happened to Jesse. Of course this agency had investigated Dan and knew who he was. Anyway, Jesse never did anything to gain Dan back. He had a talk with Dan, threw the ball in Dan’s court and told him he had to make up his mind. Meanwhile Dan still loves Jesse, but can’t trust him, but he also loves his boyfriend. Basically Jesse is a jerk and I don’t know why Dan loved him. I also don’t understand if the topic of ‘doing whatever it took to get Dan back’ was introduced, why the author didn’t follow through with the scenes. It feels incomplete, a dropped plotline.

Evan, Peter, Will and Lawrence show up in this book and it was nice to see them. It was especially fun to learn that Lawrence could not train Bob. Evan was meddlesome. The author threw in something odd that I thought had no place in the story. At one point Evan is talking to Jesse, and Jesse asks what does Dan mean to Evan? Jesse realizes that Evan is attracted to Dan. Evan says he is and that Peter knows. Really? Why throw that in? Evan had a cheating boyfriend and is insecure that Peter would do that to him, and Peter had a cheating wife. Why on earth would Evan admit to being attracted to Dan to Peter? Maybe it happens but I can't see an insecure person male or female wanting to be friends with someone they knew their spouse/partner was attracted to. And now that I think about it, why were there so many cheating/affairs going on in these books? Even Peter’s ex had a cheating lover at one point.

The book fell apart, especially at the end. I noticed how a character would say one thing, then the next paragraph or even the next few lines say or behave the opposite. There was a lot of character inconsistency. Norman was fun, the dogs were all fun in each of the books, the people not so much. I’m wondering if there’s going to be a fifth book, maybe having to deal with Dan’s ex-boyfriend who was in love with Dan, but was betrayed. I kind of want him to have a happy ending. If you’re looking for romance, don’t look for it in this book. Read it for the dogs instead. I give Stormin’ Norman, 3 Stars.


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Another great addition to this series. This one isn't quite as light-hearted as the previous ones. It's still about finding love, but here it's more about rediscovery. And I think it's a lesson in learning to appreciate what you have when it might be too late.

All the previous characters play a role in this story as well, although I have to admit, I wasn't too fond of Jake in this one. I found him quite petty and even a bit nasty at times. And I have to say, that did disappoint me a little.

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Partially open relationship, MC's much older than cover photos show (early and late 40's), too many friends in each other's business, didn't care for the ending, which left every up-in-the-air.

Might be for you, but it was not for me. ( )